Backsliding

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Dec 9, 2011
14,142
1,806
113
Not exactly. The divine nature cannot (and must not) be dominated by the sin nature (the flesh). But the flesh is still there until Christ perfects the saint. How do we know that the flesh has not been eradicated (totally removed)? Here is the Scripture: For the flesh lusteth against [HAS DESIRES OPPOSED TO] the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other [AT WAR WITH ONE ANOTHER]: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Gal 5:17)

So what is Paul describing?

1. The flesh is still there along with the indwelling Holy Spirit.

2. The flesh pulls the Christian towards sinful desires, while the Holy Spirit pulls him or her in the opposite direction.

3. As a result sometimes the Christian does not do the things that he would prefer to do (by yielding to the flesh).

4. However, Paul also said this in Romans: "Sin shall not have dominion over you", and "Mortify or crucify the flesh" and then "walk in the Spirit".
But the question remains,since the flesh Is warring against the Spirit can the flesh cause the Spirit to lose salvation?☺️
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,883
1,954
113
But the question remains,since the flesh Is warring against the Spirit can the flesh cause the Spirit to lose salvation?☺️
Exactly. How can we put our Hope and Trust in Christ if Satan is more Powerful? My God, however, is vastly more Power and is able to keep me from the evil one.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,112
4,374
113
But the question remains,since the flesh Is warring against the Spirit can the flesh cause the Spirit to lose salvation?☺️
No, the flesh is not saved yet, Jesus told Paul His grace is sufficient. God fully knows our hearts and our intentions if they are honorable or not. We are all in the process of sanctification which continues with each believer. We press on. sometimes the flesh wins the day battle but never victory. We are to search our own hearts to see IF we are in the faith, sometimes I question if I am because of my past failures. Yet through repentance, and the word of God I am assured HE has never left me. Oh, how sweet are the Tender mercies of our God and His discipline of those He loves is just.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,883
1,954
113
Jesus told Paul His grace is sufficient.
Yes, which is the removal of the Curse of the Lord, AKA, the Sinful Nature, AKA the Flesh (Sarx).

To remove the Curse of the Lord is the single most Gracious thing that a person can receive from God.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
The flesh has to die first.

To be born again. I thought everyone knew this. Jesus was put to death on the cross, his body literally was dead. But his spirit was commeded to his father. He was flogged and nailed. But at his resurrection, his body was transformed. The spirit lives INSIDE the flesh body.

He still has scars to show but they are healed.

As the spirit is not the same as the body (you cant actually see the spirit unless you have I dont know. 'second sight') its not able to be hurt as a physical body decays or dies.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
The Holy spirit (or some translations, the Holy Ghost) is not able to be corrupted. All other spirits are unclean. The Holy spirit can be grieved and depart if offended.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,661
5,908
113
According to what you have said about the sin nature being eradicated and replaced by the divine nature,which in part is true you are not receiving full understanding.

Those that are trying to show you that even Paul was in a constant battle with the flesh you snark at in artificial sweetness.

Our HEARTS have been circumcised to be of a divine nature but the sin nature remains and won't be removed completely until we are glorified!

Remember how the discussions with Job went,then you learned something!
A haughty spirit goes before a FALL.

Not to change your view but to ask that you listen and go deeper and grow thereby.

We must edify one another in an humble spirit of gaining knowledge to use with wisdom. To receive edification you must be open to hearing.

You have a lot knowledge from the scriptures,turn it into wisdom!

We are NEVER done being able to be taught

Blessings brother.
amen the proper mind in Christ is exactly that of pursuit always understanding we’re not there yet

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:

but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:12-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

we should live every day as if we are pursuing Christ in the gospel and I think a good measure to begin with in this forum would be

“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I think if we look at Ten Commandments we might be able to think we’re perfectly obeying those ten but if we look at our lord and savior and testator and lawgiver Jesus there’s a lifetime of improvements we can make to be more like Jesus
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
But the question remains,since the flesh Is warring against the Spirit can the flesh cause the Spirit to lose salvation?☺️
No. The flesh cannot cause the Spirit to lose salvation. Christians who sin are to repent and confess their sins. In addition to that there is divine chastening. And if that does not bring about a change, then there are serious consequences, including premature death ("the sin unto death"). But since salvation is God's gift to the one who believes, it is eternally secure. However, there can be loss of rewards. In any event a true child of God wants to be holy and righteous, not a sinful person. And the Holy Spirit empowers him or her to walk in the Spirit, and not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Therefore our focus should be on righteousness, not sinfulness.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
13,112
4,374
113
Yes, which is the removal of the Curse of the Lord, AKA, the Sinful Nature, AKA the Flesh (Sarx).

To remove the Curse of the Lord is the single most Gracious thing that a person can receive from God.
when did the lord put a curse on us?
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,888
4,539
113
No, the flesh is not saved yet, Jesus told Paul His grace is sufficient. God fully knows our hearts and our intentions if they are honorable or not. We are all in the process of sanctification which continues with each believer. We press on. sometimes the flesh wins the day battle but never victory. We are to search our own hearts to see IF we are in the faith, sometimes I question if I am because of my past failures. Yet through repentance, and the word of God I am assured HE has never left me. Oh, how sweet are the Tender mercies of our God and His discipline of those He loves is just.
We can claim salvation as if we already have it simply because we can trust God's promise. But yes in reality we must be dead or for Christ to return to see salvation.
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,142
1,806
113

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,888
4,539
113
After GOD makes the Spirit of a Just man perfect does the man have to be sinless In the body/Mind(I mean If the person has an Impure thought about someone occasionally)In order to have salvation.
Sinless is impossible for the flesh. But sinning less is now possible through the Spirit. By grace through faith (pistis and pisteuo) are we saved. By faith alone.
 

Gardenias

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2020
2,281
1,117
113
U.S.A.
I think I see where the confusion rests. I am specifically referring to my post #84, and not those afterward.

"I'll leave you to the Spirit to be taught by him."

And how is the above not "snarky"?

"We may not all agree but we must always love the brethren."

And again, you are insinuating that I do not love the Brethren.
I think I see where the confusion rests. I am specifically referring to my post #84, and not those afterward.

"I'll leave you to the Spirit to be taught by him."

And how is the above not "snarky"?

"We may not all agree but we must always love the brethren."

And again, you are insinuating that I do not love the Brethren.


Post81,82,83,89,103,107,108
No I wasn't being snarky,sometimes we all resist and become stubborn about seeing different views.
I also was NOT insinuating you don't love the brethren.
We all can give a little in places and not be so ready to be aggressive,no I'm not saying you are.

Merciful me,I'll take back my sad face and you can forget that I was hoping you to be more open.

As a matter of fact,I'll leave your post alone.
Carry on.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,883
1,954
113
Post81,82,83,89,103,107,108
No I wasn't being snarky,sometimes we all resist and become stubborn about seeing different views.
I also was NOT insinuating you don't love the brethren.
We all can give a little in places and not be so ready to be aggressive,no I'm not saying you are.

Merciful me,I'll take back my sad face and you can forget that I was hoping you to be more open.

As a matter of fact,I'll leave your post alone.
Carry on.
I'm very sorry to have offended you.
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,142
1,806
113
Sinless is impossible for the flesh. But sinning less is now possible through the Spirit. By grace through faith (pistis and pisteuo) are we saved. By faith alone.
Ok you meant that we sin less because our Spirits were made perfect and not that we receive salvation when JESUS comes back because we stopped sinning.:)
We can claim salvation as if we already have it simply because we can trust God's promise. But yes in reality we must be dead or for Christ to return to see salvation.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,883
1,954
113
True Children of Christ will sin less because Jesus will have removed the Curse of the Lord from their figurative hearts. Thus, the "old man" is gone and the "new man" has arrived. With the Sin Nature cut out and removed, the "motor" that causes sin is removed. When that motor has stopped running, we are left to contend with ourselves . . . hence, the process of Sanctification.

This would be a good time for True Children to tell us how much their minds have been Transformed by Christ.

Is there anyone, here, who has been Transformed and can testify of this remarkable experience?
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,888
4,539
113
Ok you meant that we sin less because our Spirits were made perfect and not that we receive salvation when JESUS comes back because we stopped sinning.:)
Well close. Not spirits but the Holy Spirit within us guides us.